The National Consumer Commission (NCC) today launched the National Opt-Out Registry, giving every South African consumer a free, government-administered way to stop unwanted direct marketing calls, SMSes and other electronic communication.
Section 11 of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) provides consumers the right to block unwanted direct marketing communication.
To this effect, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, gazetted the Consumer Protection Act Amendment Regulations, 2026 (Regulations), empowering the NCC to administer the National Opt-Out Registry.
The Scale of the Problem
According to Truecaller’s 2026 South Africa Spam Report, South Africans received 17.47 billion spam calls between January and June 2026, up 25.2% on the same period in 2025.
Spam SMSes rose by 58.9%, to 3.71 billion. The Opt-Out Registry will therefore bring relief to South Africans bombarded with unwanted direct marketing communication.
How the Registry Will Work
The Opt-Out Registry places an obligation on direct marketers to register on the system and cleanse their list monthly before running any direct marketing campaign. This is to ensure that consumers who have enacted a block against a direct marketer do not receive any unwanted direct communication.
For consumers, an effective Opt-Out Registry under Section 11 of the CPA means that consumers must register and pre-emptively block direct marketers.
The Opt-Out Registry will be phased in to allow direct marketers and consumers to register on the system.
Phased Rollout
The NCC will roll out the system as follows:
Phase 1 – Registration: The system was opened to direct marketers for registration from 15 September 2026 and until December 2026. Should a direct marketer fail to register during the period of registration, such failure after this period may constitute a contravention of section 11 of the CPA, read together with the Consumer Protection Act Amendment Regulations, 2026.
Phase 2 – Cleansing: The NCC will afford direct marketers the opportunity to cleanse their marketing lists over a period of five months from December to April 2027 at no cost to direct market marketers. This will allow direct marketers to understand the cleansing process and make necessary preparations to interface with the system.
After the completion of these phases, and from May 2027, consumers who have registered on the Opt-Out Registry will be able to register and pre-emptively block direct marketers from unwanted direct marketing.
A Momentous Occasion for Consumers
Speaking at the launch, the NCC Acting Commissioner, Mr Hardin Ratshisusu, said: “This a momentous occasion for consumers who have for years been flooded with unwanted direct marketing. The National Opt-Out Registry will promote responsible direct marketing ensuring consumers are protected from unwanted direct marketing through spam calls, texts, e-mails and other electronic commutation.”
The NCC urges every consumer and direct marketers to register a on the Opt-Out Registry System.
The NCC will run a sustained consumer education programme and publish further guidance for both consumers and direct marketers.
